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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research reveals treating pregnant women for substance abuse early in their pregnancy can help achieve the same health and delivery outcomes as pregnant women with no substance abuse.
In a new study done by Kaiser Permanente, researchers examined 49,985 women and found integrating substance abuse screening and treatment into routine prenatal care helped pregnant women who were using cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine and heroin. They achieved similar health outcomes as women who were not abusing any of those substances.
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The study compared a group of 2,073 pregnant women who screened positive for substance abuse and opted to receive ongoing intervention throughout their pregnancy to a second group of 156 pregnant women who screened positive for substance abuse but did not accept treatment. A third (control) group was made up of pregnant women who screened negative for substance abuse.
The risk of stillbirth was 16.2 times higher for the women with substance abuse problems who did not receive intervention, compared to the group that did. The risk of placental abruption (when the placental lining separated from the mothers uterus) was 6.8 times higher for the non-treatment group than the treatment group. The risk of pre-term delivery was 2.1 times higher for the non-treatment group than the treatment group. The risk of low birth weight (under 5.5 pounds) was 1.8 times higher for the non-treatment group than the treatment group. And the risk of neonatal ventilation was 2.2 times higher for the women who did not receive treatment than the group who did receive treatment.
The women who were abusing substances but went through the treatment program had the same risk of these birth complications as the control group of women who did not abuse any substances.
SOURCE: Journal of Perinatology, published online June 26, 2008
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